Liquid container for beer or the like



Sept. 14, 1954 E. L. WAGONER 2,688,995

LIQUID CONTAINER FOR BEER OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 21, 1951 VENTOR EDM DL.WAGONER ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 14, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICELIQUID CONTAINER FOR BEER OR THE LIKE Edmund L. Wagoner, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application December 21, 1951, Serial No. 262,740

1 Claim.

This invention appertains to liquid containers and more particularly tocontainers of the beer can type.

While placing beer and other liquids in cans is desirable in that theyrequire less space than bottles and are not likely to rupture or breakduring shipping, etc, there has always been a problem particularly inputting beer in cans due to the fact that a considerable internalpressure is built up in the can, and therefore much time and effort mustbe given to sealing the top and bottom thereof. In addition to usingmuch needed metal, the interior of the cans must be coated to preventthe liquid from absorbing the so-called tin taste.

There has long been a need for an unbreakable container similar to thetin can, but made of a simpler and cheaper material which neverthelesswill maintain the desired pressure seal, and in which the manufacturingproblem is practically negligible. In an effort to overcome the abovedifliculty, various types of plastic containers have been developed, butheretofore this type of container has had the disadvantage of not beingable to maintain or withstand the internal pressure. Heat sealing, etc.has not solved this problem in that the methods used are too involved,often expensive and unsatisfactory.

Therefore, a primary object of my invention is to provide a containerfor beer and other liquids which includes a one-piece molded plasticbody and a cancavo-convex cover which, when applied to the containerbody, will effectively seal and prevent the internal gases fromescaping.

Another object of my invention is to provide the upper periphery of thecontainer body with an annular sealing groove into which is fitted aconcave-convex cover, whereby internal pressures will force the coverinto more intimate contact with the walls of the groove.

A more specific object of my invention is to make the cover of aslightly greater diameter than the interior diameter of the container,so that the cover will snap into the groove.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will behereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View in section of the container and itsassociated cover;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the container and cover, certain partsbeing shown in section, to illustrate further the details ofconstruction; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the topportion of the container and cover and showing in particular thedirection of forces resulting from internal pressures.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter Cgenerally indicates a container adapted to hold beer B or the likeliquid. The container C includes a one-piece molded body I0 which isformed from a special plastic, namely polystyrene, which is noted forits characteristics of strength and non-corrosive qualities. The upperend II of the container It is provided with a tapered throat W 12, anddirectly below the throat I2 is an annular sealing groove [3.

The container is sealed by utilizing a concaveconvex cover M which is ofa slightly greater diameter than the interior of the container and mayeven be slightly greater than the interior of the annular sealing groovel3. The outer periphery of the cover 14 terminates in a V-shaped leadingbiting edge l5, and when the cover I4 is snapped into the groove l3, thepoint IE will bite into the wall of the groove and form a sealingcontact therewith. The cover 14 is also molded from the plasticpolystyrene, but in this instance it is combined with polyethylene toimpart to the cover a certain amount of desired flexibility.

After the container has been filled with the beer B and the coversnapped in place, an internal pressure will build up within thecontainer,

and a vertical force will be exerted on the concave surface It of thecover [4 in the direction of the arrows in Figures 1 and 3 of thedrawing. This pressure will tend to straighten or flatten the curvedcover, and a resultant horizontal force will be transmitted to the outerperiphery of the cover 54 in the direction of the arrow, Figure 3 of thedrawing, causing the point Hi to bite further into the walls of thegroove I3.

It should also be noted that the top H of the container I8 is formedwith the usual annular bead ll so that conventional type beer openersmay be hooked under the bead I1 and the top l4 punctured in the usualmanner.

Changes in detail may be made Without departing from the spirit or thescope of my invention, but what I claim as new is:

A liquid container for beer and the like including a molded plasticone-piece body having an open top and having its upper periphery formedwith a tapered throat entrance, an interits convex surface facing theinterior of the con- 5 tainer and having its outer circumferenceslightly larger than the inner circumference of the container,saidannular groove having its inner circumferencei of; approximatelytheisame sizes-as the outer"circumfefence"of saidcover, whereby,

the cover may be snapped into position and pressure exerted on theinterior of the cover will serve-- to further tighten it in the groove.-

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date Perkins Dec. 28, 1886 Harvey Dec. 8, 1903 Ruchti Dec. 22, 1908Jacoby Apr. 14, 1931 I Ferngren Nov. 16, 1937 'Tupper -1 Nov. 8, 1949Webber Nov. 14, 1950 Barton Jan. 27, 1953

